BIRDS OF ICELAND : Carduelis flammea, Redpoll

Carduelis flammea Redpolls are typically inhabitants of the tundra regions of northern America an Europe. It is a very variable in size and beak shape and the specie split in different subspecies. Iceland redpolls generally belong to the subspecies C.f. islandica although the Greenland subspecies (C.f. rostrata) is a passage migrant and winter visitor. They can be recognized as small finch-like birds with a characteristic red forehead during the breeding season. They breed often twice in spring and summer. On Iceland, they make their nests in birch trees. They are also common in urban areas.